Saturday, May 15, 2010

Note from the Underground 5/15/2010

Looks like anti-bullying legislation is needed for the Michigan Legislature. Supreme Court, too. Where do you think these kids learn it from?

MIRS:

Steudle: DRIC 'Going To Happen At Some Point'
"The Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) is such a high priority to Canadian officials that Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director Kirk STEUDLE told MIRS this week that the project "is going to happen at some point," regardless of any current opposition in the Michigan Legislature."

Witnesses: Kahn Berates Staffer, Destroys Cell Phone
"Senators and staff exiting the Capitol earlier this morning told MIRS that Sen. Roger KAHN (R-Saginaw) berated his staffer for not being able to produce his car keys. Witnesses say Kahn took the staffer's cell phone, smashed on the sidewalk outside the Capitol and jumped up and down on it, pulverizing it into several pieces."


Gongwer:

APRIL REVENUES FALL 8.5 PERCENT FROM YEAR AGO
Michigan's major taxes netted $1.628 billion in revenues during April, figures released by the Senate Fiscal Agency showed, down 8.5 percent from revenues collected in April 2009.

SENATE DEMOCRATS ANGRY OVER 'TERRORIST' COMMENT
A comment from Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop calling Senate Democrats "terrorists" over their negotiations on an immediate effect vote on the teacher retirement bill was blasted as "name calling" by his Democratic counterpart that ignored how the minority Democrats were trying to protect state schools.

WEAVER REFERRAL NOT 'JUST POLITICS'
The three Supreme Court justices involved in referring Justice Elizabeth Weaver to the Judicial Tenure Commission said their actions were motivated by propriety, not politics.

ANGER OVER WHETHER KAHN HAD ANGRY ALTERCATION FOLLOWING VOTE
Claims that Sen. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw) was seen angrily shouting at an aide and then destroying a cell phone - including statements from Sen. Glenn Anderson (D-Westland) that he had tried to calm Mr. Kahn down - were themselves hotly charged as being blown out of proportion by a Senate Republican spokesperson on Friday.